Introduction

 

The Internet is now considered to be an essential part of modern life. In addition, the school has a duty to provide pupils with quality Internet access as part of their learning. Our e-Safety Policy builds upon government guidance to reflect the need to raise awareness of the safety issues associated with electronic communications as a whole. This e-Safety policy considers the use of both the fixed and mobile internet, PC’s, laptops, notebooks, digital cameras and Digi-blue video cameras. It will be revised to incorporate new and emerging technologies that we introduce into school.

 

The purpose of Internet use in school is to raise educational standards, to promote pupil achievement, to support the professional work of staff and to enhance the school’s management information systems. Internet use is a part of the statutory curriculum and a necessary tool for staff and pupils. Internet access is an entitlement for all pupils who will be taught a responsible approach to its use.

 

The school will ensure that all members of the school community are aware of the e-Safety policy and the implications for the individual. E-Safety depends on staff, governors, parents and, where appropriate, the pupils themselves taking responsibility for the use of Internet and other communication technologies.

 

Internet access

 

Internet access in the school is provided via a broadband link through the YHGfL consortium. Filtering appropriate to the age of the pupils is provided as part of this link. An agreement for the provision of a suitable virus protection system has been implemented through YHGfL. This virus protection is installed on all computers within school and automatically updates itself. Portable media may not be brought into school without specific permission and a virus check. Pupil access to the Internet will be by adult demonstration and supervision using only approved on-line materials. These will mainly be put into the Favorites section so that the pupils are not accessing the wider Internet. Where a wider search is necessary and a search engine is being used instruction in responsible and safe use by pupils will precede Internet access. Where Internet activities are part of the curriculum they will be planned so that they enrich and extend the learning activities. Staff will guide pupils through on-line activities that will support learning outcomes planned for the age and maturity of the pupils. The school will ensure that the use of Internet materials by staff and pupils complies with copyright law.

 

A consent form, which covers permission to access the Internet, will be issued to parents and carers in the pupil’s induction pack which they will be required to sign and return to school before the pupil is permitted to access the Internet. Parents and pupils will be informed that their Internet use will be monitored.

 

The headteacher will ensure that the e_Safety policy is implemented and compliance with the policy monitored. All members of staff including teachers, supply staff and associate staff will be provided with access to a copy of the school e-Safety policy. Some material available on the Internet is unsuitable for pupils. Methods to identify, assess and minimise risks will be reviewed regularly. The school will take all reasonable precautions to ensure that pupils access only appropriate material. However, due to the nature of Internet content, it is not possible to guarantee that unsuitable material will never appear on a school computer. Where unsuitable content is encountered staff should inform the ICT co-ordinator who will ensure the unsuitable URL addresses are reported through the school office to the LA broadband technical support team.

 

School Website

 

The school website is maintained and kept up to date. The headteacher ensures that the content is accurate and appropriate to the needs of the school community. No personal information about any member of the school community will be published on the website. Written permission from parents or carers will be obtained before photographs of pupils or pupil names are published on the website. Only first names of pupils will be published and these will never be published in conjunction with photographs. Any photographs published will not allow individual pupils to be identified.

 

Photos by parents/carers for personal use

 

Parental permission will be sought from all parents before photographs or videos are taken of children within school. In the event of parents/carers wanting to take photographs for their own personal use, the school will follow Becta guidelines and ensure that parents understand that the photographs taken are for private retention and not for publication in any manner, including use on personal websites (e.g. Christmas plays).

 

Photos taken by members of staff for school use
All photographs taken by members of staff will be downloaded on to Teachernet and not kept on cameras.

 

Mobile phones

 

The school allows members of staff to bring in personal mobile phones and devices for their own use but these will not be used in any areas where there are children. A sign is in the school entrance warning visitors about the safe use of mobile phones in school and they will be expected to adhere to staff regulations. Students from schools on placements will be asked to leave their mobile phones in the school office while they are on our premises. Under no circumstances will members of staff be allowed to contact parents/carers using their own personal mobile.

 

Data Security

 

The accessing of school data is something that the school takes very seriously. The school follows Becta guidelines. Staff are aware of their responsibility when accessing school data.

 

They must not:-

• Access data outside of school
• Take copies of the data
• Allow others to view the data
• Edit the data unless specifically requested to do so by the Head and /or Governing Body

 

The Head and Deputy Head both have their laptops password protected as they may contain sensitive information. Any staff having to write reports or any other letters that are confidential are told to do so on the office machine and to save it on the S Drive which is password protected.

 

Monitoring of the e-safety policy

 

As e-safety is an important aspect of strategic leadership within the school, the Headteacher and Governing Body have ultimate responsibility to ensure that the policy and practices are embedded and monitored. The Governors will be regularly updated and have an understanding of the issues and strategies used within the school.